Cleaning rubber junk off door panels

[LauraLadyBug]

Hi, everyone. Haven't posted for awhile.
I read all the other threads I could find on here about cleaning off the rubber junk off the top of the door panels. We had to take the door panels off again to fix the window regulator AGAIN.http://newbeetle.org/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif

I first tried Pine Sol and that got some of it off, I still had to scrape with an old credit card. Tried GooGone and it did NOTHING. Read on one of the threads to try rubbing alcohol, so tried and that works great. You just have to be prepared to throw the cleaning cloths away afterwards. I read about these paint remover wipes, so might try those if I find them. Wasn't plannign to go to Lowe's tonight, though just Publix and WalMart.


Anyway I will post a couple of pictures. We're thinking of NOT painting afterwards, anyone have thoughts on that? The plastic seems nice and smooth, so why couldn't I just clean and wipe with ArmorAll from time to time? The black color is still good.http://newbeetle.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

Now I have to start cleaning the gray parts of the door, handle already cleaned, now just the trim parts. I;m so encouraged by the results of this, I want to clean all the sticky gooey junk off the dash too.

[LauraLadyBug]

Here is a picture of the driver's side door panel off and sitting on a table in my garage.

[LauraLadyBug]

And here is a close up of the black part (top of door panel) partially cleaned. I ran out of alcohol, and am going out right now to buy more, to finish cleaning tonight.

The hazy or lighter part you see is where the sticky rubbery crap is not yet removed.

[Buggin]

Spray with Easy-Off oven cleaner.
Let it sit for 5 min or so.
Scrub it with a nylon brush.
Rinse with water.

Works like a charm w/ no damage to the plastic underneath like some paint strippers will.

[LauraLadyBug]

Originally Posted by Buggin

Spray with Easy-Off oven cleaner.
Let it sit for 5 min or so.
Scrub it with a nylon brush.
Rinse with water.

Works like a charm w/ no damage to the plastic underneath like some paint strippers will.

Well, I have done the whole driver's side door panel and am working my way across the dash and console to the passenger side. I have had great result with the alcohol, and I used "Back to Black" afterwards, and it looks GREAT. Like new, and no residue or greasiness. Nice and shiny, even the gray parts.
And the biggest bonus is, a large bottle fo alcohol only costs $1.83. CHEAP.
And in this economy, a good thing!!!!

[BumbleBug]

Mr Clean Magic Eraser for the win!!

Try it! No chemicals to break down your plastic!

Isn't the back to black a little greasy on your trim? Try something like Prima Nero. It's much better for a nice clean matte finish trim.

D!

[LauraLadyBug]

Originally Posted by BumbleBug

Mr Clean Magic Eraser for the win!!

Try it! No chemicals to break down your plastic!

Isn't the back to black a little greasy on your trim? Try something like Prima Nero. It's much better for a nice clean matte finish trim.

D!

Actually the Back to Black wasn't bad,when buffed properly it isn't greasy at all. I found it just didn't look good on the dash, though, I just used Armor All on the dash parts. While we were at it, we took the center dash piece off, then the passenger side and replaced the cabin (pollen) filter.
I'll post some pictures.
Here's the drivers side door after, and the passenger side during cleaning/polishing.

[LauraLadyBug]

Originally Posted by BumbleBug

Mr Clean Magic Eraser for the win!!

Try it! No chemicals to break down your plastic!

Isn't the back to black a little greasy on your trim? Try something like Prima Nero. It's much better for a nice clean matte finish trim.

D!

I would like to try the Magic Eraser. What parts did you clean with it? I still have to clean the sticky gray rubber gunk from all under the steering wheel, and the glove box area. To get it off the door panels, I had to use a brush and alcohol, and wipe afterwards with a cloth. I guess I'll have to put visqueen on the carpet and go at it! Here's a picture of the dash afterwards.

[Candyman]

Please be VERY VERY aware of using chemicals to take the paint off. I went to the hardware store, told them what I was doing and the lady gave me this spray stuff(Citristrip). She said it was super safe. Turns out it wasnt. It ATE through my door panels!!! And you know how hard door panels are to find. I still havent replaced them!!

[Oldbugman]

Originally Posted by LauraLadyBug

I would like to try the Magic Eraser. What parts did you clean with it? I still have to clean the sticky gray rubber gunk from all under the steering wheel, and the glove box area. To get it off the door panels, I had to use a brush and alcohol, and wipe afterwards with a cloth. I guess I'll have to put visqueen on the carpet and go at it! Here's a picture of the dash afterwards.

Take the panel and glovebox out, not much to removing them and it will be a whole lot easier working on them.

[BeetleDad1]

Originally Posted by LauraLadyBug

Well, I have done the whole driver's side door panel and am working my way across the dash and console to the passenger side. I have had great result with the alcohol, and I used "Back to Black" afterwards, and it looks GREAT. Like new, and no residue or greasiness. Nice and shiny, even the gray parts.
And the biggest bonus is, a large bottle fo alcohol only costs $1.83. CHEAP.
And in this economy, a good thing!!!!

1) Did you remove your dash panels when stripping with rubbing alchohol?

2) Also, how is your dash holding up without paint on it? I was curious to see if we should paint ours.

3) Did you remove the steering wheel spoke covers and strip the silver paint off the them also?

Thanks,
Phil

[MichelleRoze]

what I found that works great, is nail polish remover pads from Walmart. They are little felt pads, that serve as a rough surface that will wipe that rubber junk right off. I painted the area around the door handle and window switches, and it came off so easy! So that's another option.

[from Margaritaville...]

Michelle...

Is that polish remover a Walmart brand or some other brand...

[MichelleRoze]

It's the Equate brand. Looked like this :



worked great on those little handle pieces. I don't know how well it'll do on bigger pieces, but I'm sure it'll be just the same. And one pad really does go a long way. And if the pad gets dry for some reason, just soak it in more nail polish remover! Make sure it has acetone though, I think that's the key to removing the junk. This pack you get 6 pads and I think it's all of like $1 or $2 dollars. Online it says price varies by store.

[from Margaritaville...]

Thank you MichelleRoze. I'll acquire some this weekend, though I expect to get a few snickers at the checkstand (No, not the candy bar)...

[MichelleRoze]

lol Well just tell them that the pink nail polish you picked out for your toes didn't flatter your skin tone very well. lol

[HarlequinPixie]

I used the magic eraser when i was cleaning my interior a couple weeks ago, and it worked well on the tan\grey panel parts.. i was just going for cleaning off scuff marks at the time, but it did take some of the rubber coating off in parts i had to scrub a bit more.. i think it'd work pretty good

[huck731]

did you just use the magic eraser and water, or some other chemical??? also, oops! stain remover seems to do a good job with lots of scrubbign with a cloth or old towel, and some dawn dish soap to finish it off.

[Cumulus]

Thanks for posting all the tips everyone, I need to remove it from the top of my doors, I've never really liked it. Not sure why they didn't just paint them black on the white and black cars, they seem to be painted on all the other colors of my year.

[kentuckywingman]

The fix on the rubber gunk looks great. I just picked up a great little 2000, low miles, excellent body but has the rubber gunk on the upper door panels. I tested a spot with alcohol and it works like a charm with a bit of work.

QUESTION: How did you get the door panels off?

Thanks!